No model



10.753,037. PATENTED PEB. 2s, 1904.'

` D. W. BLAIR.

OBSERVATION WHEEL.

APPLIUATION HLBD 00T. 9, 190s,

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H0 MODEL.

A TTOHN E YS 1m: mams versus :u mcrammo., msnmoon. a` e.

No. 753,037. PATENTED PEB. 2:3, 1904.

D. W. BLAIR. Y OBSERVATION WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED UGT* 9. 1903.

, N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED FEB. 23, 1904.

D. W. BLAIR.

UBSERVATION WHEEL. APPLIOATION FILED 0011.9, 190s. Y

3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

N0 MODEL.

A TTOHNE YS spoke-holes 5C, into which are secured the 4o 'and ImprovedObservation/Vheel, of which platform 11, mounted upon rigid supports 12,is provided with a backboard 13, the platform being used for allowingthe passengers Nc..Y 753,037.

Patented February 23, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

:DAVID WESLEY BLAIR, OF PERTH AMBOY, NEW J OBSERVATION-WHEEL..

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters vPatent No. 753,035?, datedFebruary 23, 1904.

.- applicativa ma october 9, 190s.`

To a/ZZ whom it, may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID WESLEY BLAIR, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Perth Amboy, in the county ofMiddleseX f and State ofNew Jersey, have invented a new the following is a full, scription. v

My invention relates to observation-wheels, my more particular objectbeing to produce such a type of wheel as will afford amusement andrecreation and will particularly be adapted for public use. Y Y

My invention embodies certain general and specific features, as hereinshown and de-` scribed, and pointed out in the 'appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of`this specifation, in which similar characters of-reference indi catecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away and in section,showingmy invention ready for use. Fig.- 2 is a vertical section uponthe line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section upon the line 3 3of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail showing the mounting ofcertain movable parts of the circumference of the wheel. f

Upon the posts 1 are mounted a plurality of I-beams 2, arranged inpairs, as shown in Fig; 2, and connected together by longitudinalstringers 3, mounted thereon and parallel therewith. Disposed upon thestringers 3 are rails 4. The hubs of the observation-wheel are shown at5 and are provided with wheels 5, integral therewith. The hubs 5 arefurther provided with gear-teeth 5b and with clear, and exact despokes6, these spokes being connected together by means of braces 7. The outerends of the spokes are connected together by means of bars 8, whichserve both as connecting members for diifer'ent parts of the wheel andasV cross-ties for supporting the circular rails 9, which are rigidlymounted thereon.l A series of observationchairs are shown at 10. A

SerialNo. 176,400. (No model.)

to embark. and disembarlr. The supports 12 by top plates 18 and providedwith fixed axle- 4pins 17%, upon which the wheels 16 revolve.

` VItwill be noted, therefore, that while all the wheels are free torevolve the trucks, the journals of the observation-wheel,` and theplatform within the observation-wheel have no revoluble movement.

Mounted within the hubs 5 are the hollow journals 2O,` upon which thetrucks 17 are mounted, the outer ends of these journals being providedwith keys 21, which engage the trucks, and thus prevent the journalsfrom rotating. The inner ends of the journals 20 are rigidly 'connectedwith massive cranks 22, these cranks in turn being connected together bya rigid framework, consisting of a beam 23, upon either side of whichare clampingplates 24, held thereagainst by means of bolts .25, whichpass entirely through the beam and the plates 24.

A platform 26 is provided upon its under side with asupporting-framework 27, this framework having numerous braces 28 forthe purpose of strengthening it and carrying seats 29. An electric motor30 is rigidly connected with the plates 24 and depends therefrom, asshown in Fig. 2. This motor is connected by means of wires 31 32,passing out through one of the hollow journals 20 to binding-posts l31EL32, and another binding-post 33 is mounted adjacent to those justmentioned. The binding-posts 32a 33 are connected, by means of wires 32b33", with the rheostat 34,

4which ismounted within a cab 19, from which .the operator bymanipulating the rheostat 34 .may control the motor in the usual mannerfor controlling electric motors.

Steps 35 are provided for enabling the pasfsangers to embark anddisembarli, the upper portions 'of the steps being on a level with theplatform 11-for this purpose. The outer circumference of the wheelcomprises a pair of large rings36 36, connected together by pins 39;being thus arranged in pairs, as indicated IOO in Fig. 3. A number offans 38 arepivoted' to the pins 39, being thereby rendered movablerelatively to the wheel. The spokes 6 are clamped upon either side bythe rings 36 or 36a, making a comparatively strong construction. Thefans 38 areV provided with stems 40, each having an eye 41, as shownmore particularly in Fig. 4. A pair of rings 42 42a are connectedtogether by means of bolts 53, which bolts pass through the eyes 41. Therings 42 42n are mounted upon brackets 54, these brackets being rigidlyconnected with the spokes 6 of the wheel. The rings 42 42 are thusmovablerelatively to the other parts of the wheel. A rack 43 is mountedupon the ring 42 and is engaged by a pinion 44 upon a shaft 45, thisshaft being revolubly mounted within a bearing 46. By rotating the shaft45 the position of the rings 42 42m may be shifted relatively to theposition of the rings 36 36a, so as to cause the fans 38 to assumedifferent angles relatively to the general position of theobservation-wheel. The fans can thus be brought into close proximity tothe outer circumference of the wheel, and can thus be made to featherrelatively thereto. The fans are for the purpose of creating a draft orbreeze through the observation-wheel for the comfort of the passengers.Gearwheels 47 and 48 are connected by a shaft 49.

' A shaft 50 constitutes the armature-shaft of the motor and rigidlycarries a pinion 51, this pinion in turn engaging the gear-teeth 5b.Motion is thus translated from the motor 30 through the gearing to thegear-teeth 5b of the hub 5, thereby causing the wheel to rotate.

The parts inside of the observation-wheel and depending from the hollowjournals 20 are prevented from turning, as above described, by thejournals being-keyed to the trucks in a horizontal position, asindicated in Fig. 1. No great difficulty attends this feature for thereason thatl the gearing, the motor, and the supports therefor arenecessarily quiteheavy, and the platform 26,with its metallic supports27 28, is located below the center of gravity. Besides, if need be, thepassengers can be so seated as to preserve an approximate balance.

My invention is used as follows: The motorman or conductor takes hisstation in the cab 19, the passengers embark from the platform 11,passing between the spokes 6 of the wheel and down the steps 35 to thechairs 10, being seated thereupon. The motorman by means of the rheostat34 turns the current upon the motor 30, and thus sets the gearing intomotion. The wheels 5a having now a rotary motion act as driving-wheelsand propel the observation-wheel along the rails 4,

' the wheel turning over and over at a coma whole is attained withcomparatively little forward movement of the same. The passengers whileperhaps going forward only a few yards have the sensation of traversingagreat distance, the device thus acting to some eX- tent as an illusionapparatus. The effect may be increased by adjusting the fans 38, asabove described, so as to create a strong breeze, and thus all thepassengers have the impression that the breeze is due to the great speedat which they are traveling. The large spokes moving successively pastany given point of observation of the passengers necessarily creates theimpression that the apparatus is moving with immense velocity. Themajority of the passengers will of course be seated upon the chairs 29.Some few, however, may choose the chairs l0, these chairs tending, ofcourse, to gravitate toward the lowest available point will remainsubstantially at the bottom and in the center of the wheel, as indicatedin Fig. 1. With the passengers seated in these chairs 10 the illusion isquite as effective as with those seated in the chairs 29. The adjustmentof the fans 38, as above described, may also be used to partiallyobscure the vision of the passengers, they being unable to see betweenthe fans when the latter are closed, and this obstruction of vision mayalso be turned to advantage for the purpose of increasing the illusion.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In an observation-wheel, the combination of ahollow revoluble member, a platform mounted therein and suspended belowthe axis thereof,.rails mounted within said revoluble member andconnected thereto, and vehicles mounted upon said rails.

2.- In an observation-wheel, the combination of a hollow revolublemember, means for accommodating passengers within the same, a stationarytrack upon said hollow revoluble member which is free to rotate, andelectric mechanism carried by said hollow revoluble member forpropelling the same.

3. In an observation-wheel, the combination of a hollow revoluble memberof comparatively large diameter, wheels of comparatively small diameterconnected rigidly thereto, truck-frames connected with said wheels,loose wheels connected with said truck-frame, and a track for engagingall of said wheels.

4. In -an observation-wheel, the combination of a revoluble memberprovided at its outer circumference with rings rigidly connectedthereto, other rings loosely connected therewith and movable in relationthereto, and members connected with said stationary and said movablerings, said members being adapted to feather.

5. In an observation-wheel, the combination of a hollow revoluble memberprovided adjacent to its outer circumference with a ring movablerelatively thereto, manuallycontrolled mechanism for shifting theposition of IOO IIO

ISO

said ring relatively to said circumference, and fan-like membersconnected with said outer circumference and said ring, said membersbeing adapted to feather when said movable ring is moved relatively tosaid circumference. 6. In an observation-wheel, the combination of anelevated track, a hollow revoluble member provided with hubs supporteddi'- rectly upon said track and revoluble relatively thereto, trucksengaging said elevated track and maintained substantially level thereby,a platform mounted within said hollow revoluble member, and connectionsextending from said trucks to said 4platform for maintaining the samesubstantially level;

7. In an observation-wheel, the combination .of an elevated track, ahollow member disposed adjacent to said track and movable bodily inrelation thereto, trucks mounted upon said elevated track and movablebodily in relation thereto, and a platform mounted within said hollowmember and connected with said trucks, said platform being maintainedsubstantially level thereby.

8. In an observation-wheel, the combination of a hollow revoluble memberprovided adjacent to its outer circumference with crossbars connectingopposite portions of said' revoluble member together, annular railsmounted within said hollow member and connected with said cross-bars,which thereby serve both as braces for said hollow revoluble members lowrevoluble member, and means for securing said platform rigidly in apredetermined 'plane independently of the movements of said hollowrevoluble member.

10. VIn an observation-wheel, the combination of a track, a hollowrevoluble member free to revolve and also to move bodily yalong saidtrack, vehicles disposed loosely within said hollow revoluble member andmovable relatively thereto, a platform disposed within said hollowrevoluble member and movable bodily therewith in the general directionof travel thereof along said track, and mechanism connecting saidplatform with stationary mechanism outside of said wheel, therebymaintaining said platform level.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID WESLEY BLAIR.

Witnesses ARTHUR, STONHAM, EDGAR REED.

